Hey all;

How does one go about supporting and encouraging someone who has mild (undiagnosed) cyclothymia? The person in question is usually quite positive and well-adjusted, but will regularly lapse into depressive phases for a day or two, once every 2 months or so.

The issues in question always concern their unrealistically-high standards and the failure to achieve these, their "mundane" life, and a general sense of discontentment with their current existence. It's not suicidal, but phrases like "I hate my life" are not uncommon. Other issues include insecurity, low self-esteem that cycles with narcissism (sp?), and deep-rooted anger and resentment for some negative experiences from their past (non-abusive type).

This person doesn't want to see a therapist, and usually can talk themself out of their negative state. Triggers include: heat, fatigue, and movies/songs with themes tied around the passage of time and the insignficance of one person in comparison with the whole world.

Anyway, I am just wondering if anyone has any advice on how I can help such a person? I mean, besides just listening to the ranting and offering pithy platitudes that never work anyway.

Thanks!